Why Women Were Taught to Distrust Themselves — And How to Take That Power Back with Meggan Watterson

About this episode

Dr. Mindy Pelz and Meggan Watterson discuss the historical suppression of women's inner authority and how to reclaim it.

Join us at 1440, June 11-13th, 2026: Click to learn more What if the reason you don't trust yourself was engineered centuries ago — on purpose? In this episode, Dr. Mindy Pelz sits down with feminist theologian and author Meggan Watterson to uncover the deliberate suppression of women's inner authority and what reclaiming it looks like right now. Meggan draws on 30 years of scholarship — including the long-buried Gospel of Mary and the Acts of Paul and Thecla — to show that the most powerful women in early Christianity weren't lost to history by accident. They were erased because their message was too dangerous: that the greatest power doesn't come from institutions, hierarchies, or external permission. It comes from within. In this conversation you'll learn: Why women's self-doubt has roots in a 4th-century political decision What the Gospel of Mary teaches about the "spiritual eye of the heart" Why ending the war with your body is the first act of reclaiming your power Why rage is sacred — and why feeling it fully is healing What it means to "baptize yourself" in today's world If you've ever felt unworthy, silenced, or too much — this episode is for you. For more resources…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Mindy Pelz

Guest: Meggan Watterson

Topics covered

• women's empowerment
• self-trust
• historical suppression
• spirituality
• feminism

Keywords

• self-doubt
• inner authority
• feminist theology
• spiritual eye
• reclaiming power

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Gospel of Mary, Acts of Paul and Thecla

More episodes of Live Like a Girl with Dr. Mindy Pelz

• Trying Everything to Lose Weight? These 5 Things Matter More Than You Think · September 9, 2026 · 22 min
• Why So Many Women Feel Disconnected From Their Bodies with Emma-Louise Boynton · September 7, 2026 · 1h 19m
• 10 Foods That Naturally Boost GLP-1 & Quiet Food Noise · September 2, 2026 · 30 min
• How to Make Healthy Food Actually Taste Good with Chef Nyesha Arrington · August 31, 2026 · 1h 10m
• Why Everything Feels Harder After 40: Nervous System, Burnout & Letting Go · August 26, 2026 · 1h 21m
• Dr. David Perlmutter on Menopause, Metabolism & Protecting Your Brain · August 24, 2026 · 1h 6m